Automatic air-valve.



B. GATGHINGS.

AUTOMATIC AIR VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1910.

Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

fi w twaym BOB GATCHINGS, 0F JASPER, ALAMA.

.AUTOMATIC AIR-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7,1913.

Application filed April 8, 1910. Serial No. 554,268.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BOB CAToHINes, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Jasper, in the count-y of Walker and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Air- Valves, of which the following-is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved automatic air valve adapted to be used in connection with the service pipe of a water system for the purpose of admitting of the entrance or expulsion of atmospheric air, as may be required, and to enable such admittance or expulsion to take place automatically.

With these and other ends in View which will readily appear as the nature of the in-- vention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully describe! and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a' simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure l is a diagrammatic view in elevation, showing several of the improved air valves installed upon a service pipe. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of the improved valve. 1

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The improved device comprises-a casing A having an intermediate bulged portion 1 from which it tapers upwardly to the neck 2 and downwardly, as shown at 3, toward the base 4c which is cxteriorly threaded, as

shown at 5, said base being also provided with a bore 6 which is tapered or contracted in a downward direction. The downwardly tapered portion 3 of the casing is to be of considerable length as compared with that portion 7 which tapers upwardly from the mtermediate bulging portion or breast 1. The neck 2 is provided with a cap or nipple 8 which may be threaded or otherwise suitably secured thereupon.

Disposed within the shell or casing A is a float B, the contour of which is substantially like that of the outer casing. Said float is provided with a downwardly extending stem 9 projecting into the tapering bore 6 of the base 4, and said float has been shown as provided with small downward projections 10 to prevent it from seating upon the base and thus obstructing the bore 6. Securely mounted upon the upper end of the float B is a cage 11 which extends upwardly into the neck 2 of the casing A, said cage containing a spring 12- bearing at one end against the body of the float and at the oppositeend against a'follower13 from which a stem 14 extends upwardly into the nipple 8, said stem carrying, a ball-shaped head or valve 15 adapted to obstruct a small aperture 16 in the nipple 8.

The improved device may be mounted upon a service pipe 17 in. any desired position adjacent to a faucet 18 upon said service pipe, the connection being made either directly with the pipe, as indicated at A, or by means of a coupling device including a T 19 and an L 20, as shown at A in Fig. l of the drawings.

21 designates the sto cock or valve of ordinary construction a jacent t0. the lower end of the service pipe.

Assuming the service pipe to be empty and the faucets 18 to be closed, when the stop cook 21 is opened, water'will rise in the service pipe and will displace the air contained in said pipe, said air escaping through the apertures 16 of the nipples 8 until the water has risen to a point where the floats B in the several casings rise to a point where theapertures 16 will be obstructed. The casings A, however, will still contain a quantity of atmospheric air which under the pressure of the water will become compressed in the upper ends of the casings forming air cushions. The floats will con tinue to rise until the tension of the spring 12 in each device plus the tension of the air cushion will equalize the pressure of the water. Under these conditions when water is. drawn through any of the faucets 18, an even and steady flow will be insured owing to the pressure of the air cushion. Should it be desired to cut ofl the water, as for instance in cold weather to prevent it from freezing in the pipes, this may be effected without opening the faucets 18 or any of said faucets by simply closing the stop valve 21, when the water contained in the service pipe will escape through the waste of said stop valve, the water being expelled under pressure of the air forming the air cushions in the several casings it. until the floats are lowered to a point where the valves 15 will be unseated,. when air will be permitted to enter through the.

aperture 16 of the nipple.

When the temperature is below the freezing point, if the closing of the stop valve should be neglected, the water in the act of freezing will be displaced upwardly in the tapering casings A, as well as in the taring bores 6, thus permitting the waterto freeze without injury to the fixtures.

The improved device, as will be seen from the foregoing description, is simple in connotegeea stein guided in the bore, an apertured nipple at the upper end of the casing, a cage upon the up r end of the float, and a spring actuate follower guided in said ca e and having a. stem carrying a valve to o truct the apertured nipp e.

2. A ta ered casing having an exteriorly threaded ottom member provided with a tapering here, said casing being provided with an upwardly extending neck, an a tured nipple engaging said neck, a oat within the casing having a stern guided in the tapering bottom bore, a cage mounted uponthe upper end of the float, a spring actuated follow-er guided in said cage, and a stem extending upwardly from the follower and having a valve adapted to obstruct the apertured nipple.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BOB CATCHINGS.

Witnesses:

0, M. SHERER, A. S. Gmlsennnmiv. 

